Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2026 May 3. doi: 10.1186/s13034-026-01083-8. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has emerged as a significant behavioral concern among youth, yet global prevalence estimates remain inconsistent due to methodological variability. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the global pooled prevalence of IGD in children and adolescents.
METHODS: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and prospective registration in PROSPERO (CRD420251156483) prior to data extraction and analysis, comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO up to September 2025. Eligible observational studies assessed IGD prevalence in individuals aged 6-18 years using standardized diagnostic instruments based on DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria. A random-effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian and Laird method) with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used to pool prevalence estimates. Between-study heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s regression test.
RESULTS: Nineteen studies involving 251,037 participants and 26,868 IGD cases met the inclusion criteria. The pooled global prevalence of IGD among children and adolescents was 10% (95% CI: 6-15%). Individual study estimates ranged from approximately 1% in some European populations to over 25% in studies conducted in Middle Eastern and Latin American settings. Heterogeneity was extreme (I² = 99.7%), and smaller studies tended to report higher prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one in ten children and adolescents worldwide meet criteria for IGD, underscoring its growing significance as a global mental health concern. Given the substantial heterogeneity observed, the pooled estimate should be interpreted as an average across diverse contexts rather than a uniform global rate. These findings highlight the need for standardized diagnostic criteria, culturally sensitive preventive interventions, and early identification strategies to mitigate long-term psychosocial impact.
PMID:42071239 | DOI:10.1186/s13034-026-01083-8
